Court clears man accused under multiple IPC sections
In a significant verdict that underscores the importance of consent and intent in criminal law, the Supreme Court of India quashed all charges against a 25-year-old agricultural student from Satara, Maharashtra, who had been accused of rape, unnatural sex, and criminal intimidation. The accused, Amol Bhagwan Nehul, was facing charges under Sections 376, 376(2)(n), 377, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case stemmed from a relationship that began on 8 June 2022 and continued until early 2023. The woman, a divorcee, alleged that Nehul had forced her into sexual acts on the pretext of marriage, including instances of unnatural sex. However, the court found no coercion or inducement that would negate consent.
Relationship based on mutual consent
The bench, comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, noted that the complainant and the appellant were in a consensual relationship. The woman continued to meet him at various locations and stayed in lodges with him, even after the alleged incidents of abuse. The judges observed that such behaviour contradicted the claim of coercion and instead pointed to a voluntary relationship that later turned bitter.
Citing the absence of deception or threats, the court stressed that consent in a relationship cannot be retrospectively withdrawn when emotional ties break down. The judges warned that equating every failed romantic relationship with a criminal act of rape could dilute the sanctity of actual cases of sexual assault.
No evidence of false promise to marry
The complainant had alleged that Nehul backed out of the marriage after engaging in a physical relationship with her. However, the Supreme Court pointed out that there was no material to prove that the promise to marry was false from the beginning — a necessary criterion under Section 90 of the IPC to establish that consent was vitiated.
The court stated that the complainant was already legally divorced by the time the relationship started, and there was no legal barrier for either party to enter into a marriage. The withdrawal from the marriage proposal appeared to stem from personal incompatibility rather than deceit.
Misuse of criminal law addressed
This ruling echoes past Supreme Court observations about the misuse of rape laws, especially in cases where relationships between consenting adults turn hostile. The judgment invoked principles laid down in State of Haryana vs Bhajan Lal, which allow for quashing FIRs when allegations are manifestly absurd or unlikely to result in conviction.
The court further cancelled the bail bond issued to Nehul and formally discharged him from all accusations.
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